Market Stats Hawaii’s Congressional Delegation successfully worked to include an additional $250M in federal appropriations for the construction of rail. The U.S. Senate and House appropriations committees included the funding in both of their Fiscal Year 2016 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bills.
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, said that the Senate took an important step last week to ensure federal funding continues to flow to the Honolulu rail transit project. Schatz promised to continue to work to make sure rail receives the funding it needs to stay on track.
U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono said that the funding is a reflection of the Hawaii delegation’s continuing commitment to secure full funding for rail. As Hawaii seeks solutions to alleviate gridlock and improve transportation infrastructure, she also pledged to fight for federal resources.
Congressman Mark Takai said that one of his top priorities is “ensuring that Hawaii has the necessary federal support to grow and thrive.” The full funding of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project in both the House and Senate demonstrates how the Hawaii delegation is working to direct resources back to the state.
The House passed its FY16 transportation appropriations bill earlier this month, and the Senate bill was reported from the Senate Committee on Appropriations June 25. The new installment of $250M for FY16 would be part of the project’s $1.55B in Federal New Starts funding. If approved, it will be added to the $1.056B in New Starts funding already committed or collected to date, for a total of $1.306B.
For more information on the rail project, visit www.honolulutransit.org
